title: Removal of white cells from red cells by transfusion through a new filter.
abstract: The effectiveness of a new filter (RC100) for the preparation of white cell-depleted red cells (RBCs) at the bedside was evaluated in vitro and in vivo using three RBC products: standard RBC concentrate (CPDA units), RBCs suspended in saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol additive solution after the removal of plasma (SAGM units), and RBCs suspended in SAGM after the removal of plasma and buffy coat (SAGM-BC units). Median RBC recovery was at least 92 percent when 2 units were administered through one filter; median values for residual white cells and platelets were less than or equal to 20 x 10(6) and less than or equal to 2.5 x 10(9) per 2 units, respectively. The in vivo study was carried out in 80 multiply transfused patients with thalassemia, 35 of whom had experienced frequent nonhemolytic transfusion reactions when given standard or buffy coat-free RBCs. During the 6-month study, each patient was given two transfusions of each type of RBC product One febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction occurred in each of two patients receiving SAGM-BC units, but in no other case. If the flow rate is not reduced, the median transfusion time is 35 minutes per CPDA unit and 15 minutes per SAGM and SAGM-BC unit. It is concluded that the transfusion of RBCs through the RC100 is a simple and effective procedure to administer white cell-depleted RBCs prepared at the bedside.
authors.affiliation: Centro Transfusionale e di Immunologia dei Trapianti, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sirchia
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wenz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rebulla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parravicini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carnelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertolini
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000628:therapy